Filter cling peach

ABSTRACT

A peach tree which is of large size, open density, vigorous, hardy, upright to spreading-upright, vigorous upright shoots foliated with medium to large size, lanceolate leaves, having acuminate tips, irregular broad crenate margins, mostly globose and occasionally oval and reniform glands which are medium in size, and the stipules are average, light shiny green in color, darkening with age, and early-deciduous with most falling early in the season, blooms abundantly in season with other varieties of peach trees with a hardy, medium size bud which is conical in shape and remaining slightly cupped inwards even at full expansion, pale pink medium flowers, and a regular productive bearer of a heavy, well set crop of medium to large, uniform, somewhat variably formed, very early ripening canning clingstone fruit having light orange red to a darker lacquer red color skin with a light red blush covering 10 percent to 60 percent of the fruit surface varying from a washed pattern to a mottled and dappled spotted pattern, and bright yellow flesh, becoming slightly darker near the stone, and no red coloration is present under the skin surface. The fruit ripens substantially earlier than the earliest commercial variety presently grown, has excellent canned appearance and quality and may now be the earliest volume canning peach variety, allowing earlier opening of the canneries (by approximately two weeks), thus extending the canneries&#39; season.

DISCOVERY OF THE VARIETY

The present new and distinct variety of peach tree was first observed bythe inventors in a commercial orchard of "Loadel" cling peach as asingle mutated scaffold branch on a tree of "Loadel" peach growing onthe "Loadel" topstock itself. The commerical orchard where the newvariety was discovered is owned and operated by the inventors, and isknown as "Filter Farms, Inc.". The inventors observed that the branchwas substantially different than the parent "Loadel" and took particularnote of its advanced branch maturity in relation to the parent "Loadel".Thus, the inventors realized that the branch was substantially differentfrom the regular "Loadel" variety in that the new variety wasapproximately two weeks earlier in maturity. The inventors thenpropagated five new trees by budding onto Lovell seedling rootstock;which came true to type from the originally discovered limb sport of thenew variety.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

A number of plants (five) of the present variety were asexuallyreproduced from bud wood obtained from the original mutated branch; byplacing buds onto Lovell seedling rootstock, the work was performed bythe inventors on their commercial orchard in Gridley, Calif. (23Hurlburt Lane, Gridley, Calif.). These propagated trees first fruited in1989 and were observed then and in subsequent years to be clones of theoriginally discovered branch mutation, being identical to the originalmutation scaffold in every distinguishing characteristic.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The present variety of peach tree is, characteristically, of large size,excellent vigor, with an upright to upright-spreading structure. Thetree's truck is relatively thick in diameter with rough bark texture.The tree is foliated in an abundant quantity with lanceolate leaves,having acuminate tips. The margins are irregular, and formed with mediumsized broad crenations being only slightly undulate. The leaves aregenerally medium to large in size on vigorous upright shoots. The leafstipules are average in size, light shiny green in color, darkening withage. These stipules are early-deciduous with most stipules falling earlyin the season. The tree blooms at the same time as other commercialcling peach varieties with grey-brown flowers from 18 to 22 mm. indiameter when fully expanded. The bloom quantity is abundant, beingheavier than the parent "Loadel" on the original tree. From 2-3 flowersare present per node. The tree is productive and a regular bearer of aheavy well set crop of medium to large uniform sized peaches of theclingstone variety having bright yellow, firm, fine non-melting texturedflesh with no red coloration present in the flesh or near the stone. Thenew fruit of the variety is slightly larger in size than the "Loadel".The skin is of average thickenss and moderately pubescent with a uniformcovering of light greyish color, medium length hairs. The skin isneutral in acidity and tenacious to the flesh at commercial maturity.The fruit has a light red blush that can cover from 10 percent to asmuch as 60 percent of the fruit surface. Most commonly, blushpercentages is in the 15 percent to 30 percent range. Blush form variesfrom a washed pattern to a mottled and dappled spotted pattern. Someblush striping is present in some instances. Ground color is goldenyellow and is present over 40 percent to as much as 90 percent of thefruit surface. The fruit ripens evenly.

The tree is a vigorous grower, and upright to upright-spreading ingrowth characteristics. The tree is productive and a regular bearer. Thetree is hardy under typical Sacramento Valley climatic conditions. Thetruck is relatively thick in diameter with rough surface textureexhibiting moderate scarfskin. The subject tree was pruned to a standardopen-vase shaped form. Pollination studies have not been done, however,pollen production is abundant and the new variety is self fertile.

The tree blooms in early to mid March (Mar. 11th in 1993) in the ButteCounty. The new variety blooms at the same time as other commercialcling peach varieties, including the "Loadel". The tree bloomsabundantly, with the number of flowers per node ranging from 2 to 3(most frequently 2 are present). Flower buds are of medium size. Budform is conic and relatively free from the stem. The bud surfacecharacter is very pubescent. The new variety has a more dense bloom thanthe "Loadel" variety. The fruit of the new variety matures approximately2 weeks earlier than the "Loadel" variety, with the first pick on Jun.25th through Jul. 1st (1992). The "Loadel" ripens from July 10th throughJuly 15th. The fruit of the new variety is slightly larger in size,exhibits more external red blush and darker yellow interior fleshcoloration than the "Loadel" variety.

The new variety is an extra early season, non-melting yellow fleshedcanning clingstone peach, with a small stone, excellent fruit size andgood flavor. The new variety closely resembles the early ripening clingpeach variety "Loadel". However, the new variety is distinctly earlierin maturity than "Loadel". Additionally, the new variety enjoys agreater bloom density and somewhat larger fruit than the "Loadel"variety. When canned, the new variety is of high quality and appearance,being very similar to the "Loadel" when canned. Currently, the "Loadel"variety is the earliest volume canning peach variety used by commercialcanneries. The discovery and eventual commercialization of the new clingpeach variety is of substantial value to the canning peach industrybecause it will allow for earlier opening of the canneries (by twoweeks) and for more efficient utilization of cannery facilities due tothe extended season.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing is an illustration, by photographic reproduction in color,depicting fruit of the variety. Taken clockwise from the lower left-handcorner, there is depicted: a whole fruit taken from a lateral view, awhole fruit showing its suture, a whole fruit showing its apex, a wholefruit showing its base, a fruit cut along its side taken from a lateralview and showing the flesh of the fruit. The drawing also depictsfoliage of the variety, taken clockwise from the upper right-handcorner: a portion of the current season's growth with the leavesattached and showing the top face, and two leaves of the currentseason's growth showing the bottom face.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed description of the variety of peach treegrowing under the ecological condition prevailing near Gridley, ButteCounty, Calif. Color references are to the Maerz and Paul Dictionary ofColors, first edition 1930, except where terminology having generallyaccepted meaning is employed.

Tree:

Size.--Medium: 15 ft. height; 10 ft. width.

Density.--Open (determined by pruning).

Vigor.--Vigorous, hardy.

Age.--6 years.

Rootstock.--Lovell.

Trunk:

Size.--Medium: 12" to 14" diameter (5 year old tree).

Texture.--Rough, exhibiting moderate scarfskin.

Lenticels.--Numerous (abundant), oval shaped bark lenticels; 4.0 to 7.0mm. width; 1.5 to 2.0 mm. height.

Color.--Kermanshah brown (7-C-10).

Branches:

Size.--Medium (average).

Texture.--Generally glabrous, especially with respect to currentseason's shoots.

Branching habit.--Upright to Upright-spreading.

Lenticels.--Very few lenticels are present on the current season'sshoots.

Color.--The shoots are light green (18-K-6) with exterior shoots usuallytinged with red where exposed to direct sunlight. Mature branches aremedium brown (15-A-12) burnt umber).

Foliage:

Quantity.--Abundant: internode length (between leaf nodes) is normalranging from 17 to 26 mm. on medium sized hanger fruit wood.

Leaves:

Size.--Medium to large.

Shape.--Lanceolate. The leaf tip form is acuminate with the apex oftentwisted sideways.

Length.--16.0 to 17.5 cm. (including the petiole).

Width.--13.8 to 14.6 cm.

Thickness.--Average.

Texture.--Average (normal).

Margin.--Only slightly undulate. The form is crenate, at times doublyso, with medium sized broad crenations. The crenations are somewhatirregular with variations in size and regularity of spacing.

Petiole.--10 to 13 mm. in length. 1.5 to 2.0 mm. in thickness. Lightgreen (18-J-6) with a darker green within the petiole groove (20-J-7).

Glands.--Medium in size and variable in form. Most frequently globose,but occasional oval and reniform types can be present. Gland numbers arevariable, from 1 to 5 glands can be present. Most frequently, 2 to 4stalked globose glands are present on the petiole, arising out of thetop of the ridges subtending the petiole groove and just below the baseof the leaf blade. Another 1 or 2 variably formed glands can be presenton the base of the leaf blade. Gland position is variable, but mostfrequently the stalked petiole glands are alternate in position. Coloron young leaves is shiny green (18-L-6), becoming darker with age.

Stipules.--Average in size. 12 to 14 mm. in length. Linear lanceolateform and margins are serrate. Young stipules are light shiny green(19-L-5), darkening with age. Early deciduous.

Color.--Upper leaf surface -- dark green (23-L-8). Lower leaf surface --light grey-green (22-I-5). Young shoot tip -- bright green-yellow(19-L-6).

Quantity.--Abundant.

Internode length.--Normal, ranging from 17 to 26 mm. on medium sizedhanger fruit wood.

Flower bud:

Quality.--Hardy.

Size.--Medium.

Shape.--Conic, relatively free from the stem.

Surface.--Very pubescent.

Color.--Grey-brown (7-A-10) (new cocoa brown).

Condition.--Dormant.

Flowers:

Size.--Medium: fully expanded 18 to 22 mm.

Color.--Pale pink (1-F-7) in the central portion of the petal, withdarker pink (1-G-2) coloration on the petal margins and darker yet(1-J-3) basally on the petal claw.

Pedicel.--Average length, from 2.0 to 2.5 mm. Average thickness, about1.5 mm. Shiny green color (18-L-5). Glabrous surface.

Nectaries.--Orange (9-C-12) becoming slightly duller with age.

Calyx.--Glabrous and rugose surface. Greenish (18-L-5) basally; overlainwith maroon (7-H-4) coloration and speckling of the same color on itsupper surface.

Petals:

Size.--Medium: 11 to 13 mm. length; 7 to 9 mm. width.

Form.--Variable: from slightly ovate to oval very slightly obovate.Petal number is five.

Claw form.--Short and tapered basally.

Margins.--Moderately undulate and usually cupped inwards.

Apex.--Variable, but usually somewhat domed.

Bloom:

Quantity.--Abundant: from 2 to 3 flowers per node, most frequently 2.

Date of full bloom.--March 11th.

Anthers.--Average size. Bright red (3-L-10 goya red) ventrally and lighttan (10-I-4 pond lily) dorsally.

Stamens.--Variable 9 to 13 mm. in length. The longest stamens are aboutequal in length to the pistil. Filament color is light pink (1-B-1)darkening with age to a dark rose (5-H-4).

Pollen.--Abundant. Yellow-gold (10-L-4 chrome yellow).

Pistil.--14 to 16 mm. in length (including the ovary). Pale yellow-green(18-E-2). Pubescent surface.

Fruit:

Maturity.--When described -- Full commercial maturity. Date of firstpicking -- Jun. 25, 1992. Date of last picking -- Jul. 1, 1992.

Size.--Medium to large, cheek diameter 61 to 68 mm., suture diameter 61to 67 mm. and axial diameter 57 to 67 mm.

Uniformity.--Very uniform sizing.

Form.--Somewhat variable; most frequently ovate to occasionally oblatelaterally; most frequently globose to occasionally oval apically; fruitsymmetry is fully symmetrical to, at times, slightly asymmetrical.

Suture.--Extends continuously from base to apex and is relatively deep,being slightly deeper at times over the basal shoulder. Suture lineextends past the apex 8 to 12 mm. on to the dorsal side of the apex. Nostitching or callousing is present. A narrow golden-yellow (9-L-6)suture stripe ranging from 2 to 3 mm. in width can be present when thesuture is overlain with blush coloration. When the suture area isunderlain with yellow ground color (9-L-6) the suture stripe is notevident.

Ventral surface.--Generally smooth in outline, but substantially lipped.

Cavity.--Medium: 25 to 31 mm. width, 27 to 34 mm. length and 12 to 15mm. depth. Generally oval form. Shoulders frequently have indentationmarks where the attached branch has pressed into the fruit shoulder.

Base.--Slightly truncate. The base angle is variable but most frequentlyis at a right angle to the fruit axis.

Apex.--Variable, rounded to slightly raised. Pistil point is variable inheight, at time located below the apical shoulders and recessed into thesuture groove, at other times located above the apical shoulders on thesuture groove, but in a raised position. Pistil point is most frequentlyoblique.

Stem.--Medium: 10 to 12 mm. in length. Thickness ranges from 2 to 3 mm.Light green (21-L-5) grass green) to a light brown (14-L-7 old bronze).

Skin:

Thickness.--Medium to slightly thicker than average.

Surface.--Moderately pubescent with a uniform covering of light greyish,medium length hairs over the entire fruit surface.

Character.--Neutral in acidic and tenacious to the flesh at commercialmaturity.

Tendency to crack.--No cracking.

Color.--Light orange-red (2-J-11 brigand red) to a darker red (4-K-11lacquer red). The fruit has a light red blush that can cover from 10percent to 60 percent of the fruit surface. Most commonly, blushpercentage is in the 15 percent to 30 percent range. Blush form variesfrom a washed pattern to a mottled and dappled spotted pattern. Someblush striping can also be present. Ground color is present over 40percent to 90 percent of the fruit surface. Ground color is a goldenyellow (9-L-6 golden glow).

Flesh:

Color.--Bright yellow (9-L-4 sunflower). The flesh is slightly darkernear the stone (10-L-5 primuline yellow). No red coloration is presentin the flesh or near the stone.

Juice.--Juicy at maturity.

Texture.--Firm, fine within the non-melting category of flesh texture. Amoderate number of short, light colored, tender fibers are presentthroughout the flesh.

Ripening.--Ripens evenly.

Flavor.--Sweet, well balanced rich pleasant flavor.

Aroma.--Moderate, pleasant.

Eating quality.--Very good.

Stone:

Adherence to flesh.--Full clingstone.

Size.--Small. 27 to 30 mm. length, 21 to 22 mm. width and 15 to 18 mm.thickness.

Form.--Variable, from most frequently oval to at times ovate.

Fibers.--Numerous short, light colored fibers, attached over the stonesurface.

Hilum.--Small and oval in form. Well defined by a relatively thick andraised collar.

Base.--Rounded to slightly truncate. Base angle is oblique to the stoneaxis, shorter on the dorsal suture side.

Apex.--Generally rounded, with a short dentate tip.

Sides.--Variable, from unequal to nearly equal.

Dorsal edge.--Relatively broad with a moderately deep groove presentfrom the base to within 7 to 10 mm. of the apex. The groove narrows andthe apical shoulder becomes somewhat eroded near the apex. The groove isbordered on each side by a low ridge which is cut by several crossgrooves.

Ventral edge.--Narrow to medium 4 to 5 mm. thickness at mid-stone.Several low wings present along the edge, coalesced together andconverge apically. The coalesced wings are very prominent at the basalshoulder forming a keel-like structure that protrudes out 4 to 5 mm.from the body of the stone.

Surface.--Coarsely grooved laterally across the apical shoulders, 11 to15 mm. down from the apex. Sides are moderately pitted with medium sizedoval to globose pits. Numerous small grooves are present near the baseof the stone, converging basally.

Color.--Dry stone color is a light chamois-tan (11-G-6).

Tendency to split.--No tendency to split observed.

Use: Canning peach industry.

Canning quality: Excellent.

Resistance to insects: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Resistance to disease: No unusual susceptibilities noted.

Although this novel variety of peach tree possesses the describedcharacteristics under the ecological conditions at Gridley, ButteCounty, Calif., it is to be understood that variation in thesecharacteristics incident to differing climatic and soil condition andcultural practices are anticipated.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct extra-early season variety of aclingstone peach tree having flesh of the yellow variety andsubstantially as herein shown and described, having firm, finenon-melting flesh texture, the fruit having a sweet, well balanced, richflavor, being of medium to larger size, light orange-red to a darkerlacquer red in color with a light red blush present from 10 percent to60 percent of the fruit surface, and by having a desirable symmetricalshape, where the bloom density is greater, the fruit size is larger andthe peach ripens substantially before other existing commercialvarieties, typically in late June to early July and has an excellentappearance and quality when canned.